TGIF: The last weekend

Good morning people. The end of the year is fast approaching and as we begin to find a slew of year-end stories capping the best games, moments and stories (mine is coming on ESPN.com shortly) I got to thinking about what exactly was the most memorable moment of 2007 for American soccer fans.

The question is simple enough. What one soccer moment will stand out in your mind from 2007? Was it a great goal (Like Messi's Maradona-like run)? Was it a game (like the Red Bulls-Galaxy thriller in a packed Giants Stadium)?

What moment stands out for me? Benny Feilhaber's game-winning goal in the Gold Cup final comes to mind. If something else comes to me I'll post it later.

For now, I want to hear from you. What was the most memorable soccer moment of 2007 for you? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Johnny]

Red Bulls Galaxy Goal Fest!

[Rob C]

On an overall soccer-in-America level, the two best moments are the ones Ives mentioned: The Gold Cup clincher by Benny and the RBNY/Galaxy game.

On a personal level, however, one of my favorite moments was the moment I became a true RBNY fan: at an early-season Thursday night clash with Chicago. The Red Bulls wiped the floor with Chicago that night, winning 3-0. Watching the Bulls ambush Chicago with 2 goals in the opening 2 minutes was something I'll really never forget. Despite the small crowd and horrendous atmosphere (or lack thereof) created by cavernous Giants Stadium, I was completely enraptured and felt like a part of the club. My friends and I even joined ESC in Section 101 for the 2nd Half to complete our experience.

Since that game, I attended every home game I could. We've also brought friends along to the games (sometimes as many as 20) and have had unbelievable marathon pre-game tailgates. I will be a 2008 season ticket holder and will certainly carve out my own place in RBP as well.

I'll always remember the summer of 2007 as the time I became a true RBNY (and soccer overall) fanatic...and it all started with that 3-0 win over Chicago.

PS- The SuperLiga final was pretty awesome too.

[Luis]

The moment Feilhaber's volley sailed past Oswaldo Sanchez is far and away the best moment. Nothing even remotely close.

[randall]

feilhabers goal would be my best moment, best game u.s. u20s over brazil.

[Jesse]

The 2nd goal in the U-20 USA vs. Brazil game was for me the most jaw dropping thing in American soccer history. The finish itself by Altidore was nice, but what stands out on that moment was the stepover by Adu near the end line as he created space for himself out of nothing. It was a flash of world class brilliance that we rarely see in American soccer. We didn't see it while Adu was in MLS, but in that game and now with Benfica we are.

[Ruscien]

the best is definitely Benny putting a knife in mexico's heart "slow like"

[BK (the artist formerly known as Brad)]

Feilhaber's goal was definitely the best moment this year as it was a strike that is very rarely seen in US Soccer games.

And I have to agree that the US v. Brazil U-20 game was the best game I watched all year. We got to see Adu put on an absolute clinic of what makes soccer fun to watch. The stepover, this move on the endline where he flipped it over the two Brazilians and Altidore putting two away was a glimpse of what American soccer could be like in the future. Lets hope things continue to progress in 2008.

[shean]

When FC DAllas finally beat Houston in the first game of the playoffs after losing like 9 of 10 to those guys. Goodson's goal gave hope to a franchise that never wins anything. But unfortunately things got back to normal the following week.

[bill]

The number one momement - easy, it's the press swarm beckham while he's on the bench vs the Chelsea match(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6910523.stm - click on '9')

I'm not a beckham/galaxy fan in the least - but clearly, LA Galaxy got what they wanted and then some. Any new signing will always be compared to that once-in-lifetime circus.

[Craig]

The most memorable moment was obviously Feilhaber to me. A great battle between two rivals for the cup of the region. With the score 1-1 late in the game, Feilhaber hits a sizzling shot into the upper 90 off a full volley from about 20 meters away. How could anything match that?

Well, now I have to go see the goal on youtube again.

[Tim Archer]

I think that the best moment for U.S. soccer in 2007 was the sale of two of MLS's stars to Europe. Clint Dempsey scored one of the biggest goals in recent Fulham memory against Liverpool, and it can be argued that he has been Fulham's best player through the first half of the 2007-2008 EPL season.

Second would have to be the transfer of Freddy Adu to Benfica. He has played well in reserve time, scored some big goals late in the match, and his ability, not his youth, have been evident, exponentially more so than it ever was in the MLS. Not only that, but his record setting transfer fee for the MLS is another big thing for Americans.

Both of these transfers set the precedent for other Americans to be sold overseas, whether they go to Spain, Portugal, England, Italy, Germany, or France. Who will we see in 2008? Parkhurst, Altidore? It remains to be seen how big an influence the sale of Dempsey and Adu will be in future transfers, but for me, that is the most exciting thing because young Americans are becoming valuable overseas, which bodes well for future development, both domestically and with the national team.

[Felix]

That Feilhaber goal was AWESOME!!! I was at the game, about 11 rows up behind that goal, and when that ball came off of Benny's foot and rocketed went in, those of few of us actually rooting for the US went INSANE!!! And that look on the Mexican fans' faces.... priceless.

[Chris]

Best moment for me was the Red Bulls-Galaxy match. Not even so much for the match itself, but the atmosphere. The stadium was filled. Yeah, it was Beckham that they all came to see, but they knew they were New Yorkers and cheered for the Red Bulls. And the game itself was entertaining as well (not necessarily the best played game, but entertaining none the less). Just a glimpse of what going to a soccer match could be here in the US.

[VictorM]

1. Beckham's arrival and media attention, particularly in the game against Chelsea.

2. NY - LA, 5-4. I was there. As exciting a moment as ever in person, and I was a season ticket holder with the Cosmos during the Pele era. Matches the Cosmos 8-3 win over Ft Lauderdale when 77,691 were there.

3. Freddy Adu's performances in the u-20s, particularly the game against Brazil. For the first time, the potential became obvious.

4. Benny's goal. A truly great goal at a crucial time.

5. Juan Pablo Angel play. Not a world star but still, visibly a world-class players, a cut above the rest in the league. A sign of the quality to come as MLS continues to improve.

6. Toronto FC first goal. Those fans earned it.

[Kris]

I was at the US-Mexico game when Benny scored that goal. American fans were outnumbered 50-1 and it was neat to see the reaction when Mexico scored their goal (I though Soldier Field was going to collapse), and even neater to see the US win it. Fantastic game.

Personally, my favorite moment though was when Vfb Stuttgart pulled away and won the German Bundesliga last spring.

Saddest moment was watching the whole Jose Mourinho thing unfold with my beloved Chelsea...

[Peter]

The arrival of Juan Pablo Angel, and specifically his goal against KC in Giants Stadium last June. I was in ESC with the perfect view of the header, and at that point it was like he was unstoppable: He could score from anywhere, at any time, in any way possible.

[Joe]

Ben Olsen's hat trick vs. RBNY. Go ahead and hate me, but that guy has more class and heart than any player who ever played in MLS.

[hoyanick]

Benny's goal was the best moment of the year, but very close behind that and just as important was Tim Howard's work in goal for the last ten minutes of the Gold Cup Final.

[Jeff]

Benny's goal...HANDS DOWN. If anyone else was at the game, they would have to agree that it was one of the best "sporting events" that they have ever been to. The place was electric from 30 minutes befoer the game until 30 minutes afterward.

[jmonte]

The #1 moment in US soccer has to have been Becks and Posh's spread in W magazine! She was almost naked! Great stuff.

[Soulshadow]

1) The Revolution winning the US Open Cup. Yeah, I know the competition doesn't have much cachet, but it is the second biggest domestic trophy for a US team and to see the Revs finally get one after waiting twelve years for one title was sweet. Now if we can just get the big one.

2) The US beating Mexico to win the Gold Cup. Not just for Benny's goal, but for the fact we had to come from behind to do it, which had to be quite the blow to the Mexican team's psyche. Borghetti himself said after they scored the first goal he thought they finally had the US on US soil after so many failures in recent years, only to blow it. A stomach-punch to your rivals is always a good thing.

3) Revs-Fire playoff game. Best atmosphere of the year in Gillette. Not only was the Fort in full bloom, but for the first time in memory the entire section next to it was standing as well (and actually ignored a request from security to sit). Despite having a smaller than liked crowd (due to extreme cold and short build-up time), the place was definitely rocking. A decent amount of local folks who didn't attend certainly watched it (judging from the number of "I saw you on TV!" comments I got in the following weeks). Not to mention Twellman's bicycle was super-sweet as well. Hopefully that atmosphere can carry over into 2008 on a regular basis.

4) RBNY - Galaxy game in the Meadowlands. MLS Game of the Year for certain. While Beckham gave certainly his best performance in that game, Angel and Altidore were definitely in full display and rose to the occasion. And Donovan also showed his spirit as well (don't forget his immediate answer to RBNY's two-goal lead). Shame it wasn't on ESPN for wider audience to see, but I think it did help bring some of the "soccer snobs" (for lack of a better term) into MLS.

5) RBNY - Revs game at the Meadowlands in July. Yeah, it wasn't much of a game, but it was the first summer Revs-RBNY match at the Meadowlands in a dog's age, so with no youth soccer to interfere, an enormous contigent of Revs fans actually made the trip. Great time tailgating and created a huge atmosphere heading into the stadium. Was definitely a fun time.

6) Blanco in MLS. Finally got some of the "Mexican-soccer snobs" to pay attention to the league, which can only be a good thing. MLS may not ever catch up to the Mexican League in terms of most watched league in the US, but it certainly is helping to close the gap.

Mike

[Kosh71]

I'm with the lot here - Benny's full volley blast against El Tri was the IT moment of last year.

I also enjoyed that RBNY/LA slug fest at the swamp. However, another key moment for me...and this slips under the radar because of our overall bad Copa showing, but the US defense frustrating the daylights out of Messi (forcing him to change his side on the field) was sweet too...up until the Argie goals started flowing. It was a great year though, ay?

[Tim Crawford]

Gotta be Feilhaber I suppose for making me yell the most. But my goodness, Fredward's juggling in the corner to set up Jozy's goal was breathtaking. Let me just say, I have been riding Mr. Adu's bandwagon since that tournament. Everytime I watch him play now, he makes me smile and say, "HE'S JUST SO GOOD!"

[Tim F.]

2007 Most Memorable:

Best national team game: U.S. Under-20 national team beats Brazil in the Under-20 World Cup;

Best national team goal: Feilhaber’s goal in the US-Mexico Gold Cup final match;

Best MLS game: Red Bulls-Galaxy 5-4; a game that was extremely entertaining and somehow lived up to the hype;

Best MLS goal: Ngwenya versus Chicago, week 15;

Best soccer addition: Superliga;

Best of many great Superliga moments: Galaxy vs. Pachuca in final;

Games I missed that I wish I saw: Barcelona-Real Madrid 3-3; Espanyol vs Sevilla in UEFA Champions League; and

Soccer blog: SBI.

[Henrik]

My moment was the TFC-NYRB match in Toronto in October.. Being Danish and living in Denmark my interest in the MLS has been limited to the internet for the last couple of years, but this fall I traveled the US and Canada and I just have to say the TFC fans are amazing.. They had just been eliminated, but still the stadium was full and they were singing and dancing all the time, including a singing at eachother in french by two fan groups.. I liked that TFC won the match because it was in Toronto, even though I tend to root for the Metros.. Btw.. MLS Cup was cool too ;)